Setback in recovery from shin injury casts doubt on Jones joining U.S. team.

Jermaine Jones (in white), who was born in Germany and spent his adult years living there, has stated his intention of playing for the U.S. men. A shin injury might derail his World Cup plans.-- Schalke 04 web site photo --

By Gary Davidson (in Washington, D.C.)SoccerTimes

(Thursday, November 12, 2009) -- Midfielder Jermaine Jones is by all means German, but because of dual citizenship, he pledged his allegiance to the United States men.

Jones would seem to offer the U.S. a boost in the defensive midfield, but his chances of representing the Americans in next summer's World Cup in South Africa would seem to be diminishing as he continues to struggle with a shin injury which has sidelined him since last summer.

Jones, who turned 28 on November 3, injured himself in preseason preparation with his Bundesliga club Schalke 04. While he twice has seemed to be on the verge of returning to the pitch, he now has been declared out until at least until mid-January, when Schalke begins the second half of its season.

"We're halfway through November and it doesn't look like he will be able to return to the pitch in four weeks from now," Schalke coach Felix Magath told the media.

The Bundesliga's winter break starts December 19 and runs until January 16. Before then, Jones won't be able to return to match action.

Jones underwent surgery in June and had a metal plate inserted into the shin. Pain, apparently caused by the metal plate, preempted his comeback attempts. This led to recent surgery to remove the plate.

The German newspaper Bild reported yesterday that it would be six weeks until he could return to action.

If he were able to return healthy and fit in January, there might be time for U.S. coach Bob Bradley to work him into his side. However, because of club demands and the limited number of occasions Bradley will have his first team in training before the European season ends in May, the odds of Jones fitting in with the U.S. team grow longer with every delay.

Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Jones is the son of an American serviceman, who was stationed in Germany, and a German woman. As a youth, Jones lived in Chicago and Greenwood, Miss., but when his parents divorced, he returned to Germany with his mother.

Jones appeared three times for German youth teams in international competition, but because of a change in the regulations of world governing body FIFA, players in such a situation are now allowed to play for the senior team of another nation.